My brothers best friend

Chapter 21: The Cost of Silence

(Edited)

Chapter 21

Valerie's Point of View

The world around me was a blur of neon lights, loud music, and the heavy scent of cheap beer. My head swam, not entirely from the alcohol, but from the weight pressing on my chest. My glass, filled with something sugary and intoxicating, was nearly empty, but I didn't feel like grabbing another. I just wanted to forget.

Jake's face flashed in my mind, his smile, the way he looked at me—like I was the only thing that mattered. But tonight, that wasn't what I'd seen. No, tonight, I'd seen him with Rebecca Fitzgerald. And no matter how much I told myself it wasn't what it looked like, the alcohol only made the image sharper, more painful.

I leaned against the wooden railing of the back deck, my head spinning slightly. I had come out here to escape the noise, the crowd, and the relentless ache in my chest.

"Maybe I'm just an idiot," I muttered under my breath. The words felt bitter on my tongue.

"Talking to yourself now?"

The voice startled me, and I turned to see Amelia standing a few feet away. Her lips were curved into a faint smile, but her eyes looked tired. She always carried an air of grace about her, but tonight, something seemed off.

"Hey," I said, forcing a smile. "What are you doing out here?"

Amelia shrugged, her gaze drifting past me to the shadows of the yard. "Needed some air. What about you?"

"Same," I said with a sigh. "Just...thinking about stupid things."

She laughed softly, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Join the club."

For a moment, we stood in silence, the muffled sounds of the party filtering through the open door. I glanced at Amelia out of the corner of my eye. Something about her posture, the way she kept wringing her hands, made me uneasy.

"Amelia, are you okay?" I asked gently.

She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the door to the house slammed open, and Jonathan stepped out onto the deck. His presence was like a storm cloud, heavy and oppressive.

"There you are," he said, his voice sharp. "I've been looking for you."

Amelia stiffened beside me. "I just needed some air."

Jonathan's eyes flicked to me, then back to her. "Well, you've had enough. Let's go."

"I'm not ready to leave," Amelia said quietly, her voice steady but tinged with tension.

Jonathan's jaw tightened. "I said, let's go."

"No," she replied firmly.

I could feel the shift in the air, the crackle of tension that made my skin crawl. Jonathan stepped closer, his movements deliberate and intimidating.

"Jonathan," I said, stepping forward. "She said she's not ready to leave. Maybe you should back off."

He turned his glare on me, his eyes narrowing. "Stay out of this, Valerie. This has nothing to do with you."

My pulse quickened, but I stood my ground. "It does when you're treating her like this. She's not your property."

"Don't you dare lecture me," he hissed, his voice low and venomous.

"Jonathan, stop," Amelia said, her voice shaking now. "You're making a scene."

"I'll stop when you stop embarrassing me," he snapped, grabbing her arm roughly.